We have GoogleDocs!! Now what?

Posted onJanuary 4, 2010 
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I came back to work this morning to find that our district has FINALLY unblocked Google Docs!  I am so excited as my Twitter PLN talks about them all the time.  I never did much in the way of Google Docs because I knew I couldn’t use them at work so I didn’t spend much time researching uses.  This is where I need your help!  Riddle me this, Batman:

How do YOU use Google Docs?

Social Bookmarking

Posted onDecember 28, 2009 
Filed under Music | 2 Comments

I spent much of the day today (my first REAL day of vacation so far) going through my Twitter favorites.  I use the favorites feature as more of a “save it for later” deal as I usually check my tweets from my iPhone and don’t have the time or energy to check out every link as soon as I want to.  Unfortunately they have snuck up on me and I’ve got quite a job ahead of me still, even after spending both of my kids’ nap times working on it today!

If you aren’t familiar with Diigo or Del.ici.ous, I highly suggest checking them out.  They are both great sources for saving and sharing bookmarked sites or articles that you find helpful and finding others to use and share.  My sites can be found by clicking the links above.

What interesting things do you do with these sites?

SMART Board and Groovy Music

Posted onDecember 19, 2009 
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I pulled my SMART Board out for the first time yesterday (remembering that I’ve only been back 10 days so far!) and used it with my 2nd grade classes.  I introduced them to Sibelius Groovy Jungle software, a program that I hope to be able to utilize quite often with them.  They LOVED it.  We are working on instrument sounds and families so we can study “Peter and the Wolf” when we return from the holiday break.  There is a fantastic “explore” feature that allows the students to learn basics of music while having so much fun.  The program is so wonderful because it uses real photos of instruments and real sound files of them being played.  What an amazing way to learn about the instruments!

Sibelius Groovy Shapes, Jungle, and City also come with a wonderful supply of lesson plans that help you utilize the program in your classroom.  If you have never worked with the program, you really should check it out.  If you have used it before, what is your favorite activity to do with it?

The Week Before Break

Posted onDecember 17, 2009 
Filed under Music | 2 Comments

Coming back 13 school days before Christmas break is difficult, but trying to figure out what to do with the students in a short period of time while not really starting a new activity is worse.  I see each grade for 80 minutes a week (2-40 minute sessions) but came in days before my 5th grade performance and at the end of units in the 2nd and 4th grades.

Over the summer I was lucky enough to come across @RachelRambach on Twitter who has been a huge inspiration to me with her awesome music composition and fun activities for students.  She hooked me up with an instrument BINGO and movie BINGO game, complete with mp3’s, BINGO cards and everything.  It gave me the motivation to start one of my own for my students: Christmas Carol BINGO.

Using GarageBand, I took 28 songs that my students knew well (some from MusicK8, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty, etc) and others from their concert they just completed and cut them down to 30-second (or so) bits.  They fade out at the end and usually contain the song title so it’s even easier for the students to figure it out.

I passed out a blank BINGO board during one class and wrote all of the songs on the board.  The students randomly placed them in boxes while we listened to the snippets on shuffle on the iPod and they colored and decorated their boards when they had completed writing them in.  We played BINGO for their whole next class and, I am happy to say, it took us up to the holiday break!

It is so difficult to find activities to do the week before break.  I know @musictechie and @bmuench just posted a podcast about their activities the week before break as well.  Check it out!

Do you have any fallback activities for your last week before break?  I’d love to hear any suggestions you have!

It’s December…it’s December….

Posted onDecember 9, 2009 
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I’ve been back to work a week so far, already had a dress rehearsal, afternoon and evening concert and hosted a Regional Honors Choir festival.  It’s been a loooooong week, but a good one.  My biggest struggle this week so far has been remembering that it is December.  I haven’t worked since June 9, the last day of the ‘08-’09 school year.  It’s been 6 months since I was in a classroom and in the meantime have had a second child and gone back to work with a very different personal life than I left with.  It’s been a very long 6 months.

Having such a long break from the classroom has given me a lot of enthusiasm to return, even more than the normal amount of enthusiasm I have in September.  My brain is now in September mode – I am enthusiastic, excited and motivated to have as much fun and teach as much as I can as well as I can with as many new ideas as possible.  The rest of my colleagues (and students!) are exhausted, tired, and ready for a break!  After all, Christmas break starts in 7 school days (who’s counting….) and they’ve been in school for 12 weeks!  In order to save my sanity (and theirs) I need to remember that it’s December…

Back to the daily grind…

Posted onDecember 3, 2009 
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I’m finally back to work after 12 glorious weeks of maternity leave!  I had my son, Jacob, on 09/09/09 and he is doing so well.  I loved being home with the babies but am so happy to be back at work.  I didn’t start the year in the classroom, so walking back in yesterday was like being a substitute teacher all over again.   I don’t know the students, the lessons or the music!  Ah!  I am so fortunate to have had wonderful substitutes in my absence (an accompanist at the high school and a long-term substitute at my elementary position) and they did a most amazing job.

Jumping back into the swing of things has been a happy experience but one that is also a little difficult.  So hard going from a stay-at-home mom to a full-time teacher in 2 days.  It is the beginning of the school year for me, but it’s 2 weeks to Christmas break for everyone else.  I’m really happy and motivated and they are exhausted.  It’s hard to remember that, at this point, they aren’t as motivated as I am :)

I missed the students and the routine and am so glad to be back.  I’m sure I’ll be sharing more of my difficulties in returning!  Thanks for reading.

K12 Online LAN Kick-Off!

Posted onSeptember 21, 2009 
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More information on the K12 Online 2009 hosting kickoff LAN party this Saturday, September 26 w/four outstanding live sessions: http://preview.tinyurl.com/lkz5m9

Tell everyone you know and join us on Saturday!!!

You can read Patrick Woessner’s (PR Committee Chair) blog post with all of the information by clicking here.

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